The good part of the Republican Party, sort of a partial revival of the Goldwater wing, includes people like Rand Paul.....

Barry Goldwater would turn in his grave if he read that.

For example Barry Goldwater supported equal rights for gays and lesbians and supported abortion rights for a woman. Barry Goldwater despised and opposed the Religious-Right that was coming to power in the Republican Party during his time and Rand Paul embraces the Religious-Right in his agend and rhetoric. They couldn't be farther apart on critical issues.

Barry Goldwater had more in common with President Obama than he has with Rand Paul.

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Awesome

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Re: Should Libertarians run a candidate for President or?Reply #11 - Apr 6th, 2014 at 12:47am

Perhaps the best way to put libertarians in power is to transform the Republican Party from a war-mongering, authoritarian, and Marxist cult it is now to one based on actual principles of Conservatism and limiting the state. Yes, right now most Republican and Tea Party candidates are blind neo-cons. My point is that we need to appeal more to the Republicans to make it so that most of the Republican party is libertarian-leaning.On the other hand, Liberaltarian is correct that the most important thing to do now is to cut military spendings as they are the easiest to cut and take a very large portion of the budget. Yet the Republican party is capable of having candidates who address those problems (e.g. it had Ron Paul.) Furthermore, it is clear that Democrats don't really cut military spendings, even though Obama promised to end some wars.Also, I am not a Creationist at all, but what on the bloody earth does Creationism have to do with statism? Why is it that if some politician is a creationist that makes him a less viable candidate?

NSA agents, if you can read this, your mother will die tomorrow.

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Shiva_TD

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Re: Should Libertarians run a candidate for President or?Reply #12 - Apr 6th, 2014 at 3:59am

Perhaps the best way to put libertarians in power is to transform the Republican Party from a war-mongering, authoritarian, and Marxist cult it is now to one based on actual principles of Conservatism and limiting the state. Yes, right now most Republican and Tea Party candidates are blind neo-cons. My point is that we need to appeal more to the Republicans to make it so that most of the Republican party is libertarian-leaning.On the other hand, Liberaltarian is correct that the most important thing to do now is to cut military spendings as they are the easiest to cut and take a very large portion of the budget. Yet the Republican party is capable of having candidates who address those problems (e.g. it had Ron Paul.) Furthermore, it is clear that Democrats don't really cut military spendings, even though Obama promised to end some wars.Also, I am not a Creationist at all, but what on the bloody earth does Creationism have to do with statism? Why is it that if some politician is a creationist that makes him a less viable candidate?

Starting at the end the problem isn't with the "creationist" but instead with the politician that believes the Bible, not the Constitution, is the Supreme Law of the Land. I don't even object to "creationism" being taught in schools so long as it a part of a philosophy course and all different beliefs in "creation" are taught. A Republican "creationist" would freak out at the teaching of Shinto, Hindu, Native-American and other "forms of creationism" being taught in our schools.

It might be challenging to convert a Republican and Tea Party candidate into an actual fiscal conservative but it could be possible. It would be very hard to convince Republicans to give up crony caplitalism for the wealthy and corporate capitalism (that benefits the wealthy) though.

What I find impossible would be to convert Republicans into social liberals. The "evangelical Christian conservatives" have way too much control of the Republican Party. The high level of racial prejudice of the Republican Party would also be almost insurmountable to overcome.

I actually believe Libertarians would be better off targeting Hispanics that are fiscally conservative and socially liberal. Currently about 75% vote for Democrats because of the anti-Hispanic prejudice in the Republican Party. Hispanics are the fastest growing demographic in the United States from what I understand.

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Jeff

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Re: Should Libertarians run a candidate for President or?Reply #13 - Apr 6th, 2014 at 8:43am

For example Barry Goldwater supported equal rights for gays and lesbians and supported abortion rights for a woman. Barry Goldwater despised and opposed the Religious-Right that was coming to power in the Republican Party during his time and Rand Paul embraces the Religious-Right in his agend and rhetoric. They couldn't be farther apart on critical issues.

Barry Goldwater had more in common with President Obama than he has with Rand Paul.

The critical issue is the choice between limited Constitutional government and an unlimited government of men.Obama has nothing in common with Goldwater.